Remote control apparatus for moving an operating lamp



W. STURM Nov. 12, 1963 REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MOVING AN OPERATINGLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 INVENTOR WALTER STURM BY WATTORNEY-5 Nov. 12, 1963 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 w. STURM' 3,110,815

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MOVING AN OIPERATING LAMP s Sheets-Sheet 2Fig.4

INVENTOR WALTER s rug/w ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1963 I w. STURM 0,8

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MOVING AN OPERATING LAMP Filed Sept. 8,1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F6 I k I INVENFOR 4 -wmnsrz 5TURM BYMAW'ATTORNEYfi United States PatentO REMOTE CONTRQL APPARATUS FOR MQVING AN()PERA'IHNG LAW Walter Sturm, Hanan (Main)-Hohe Tanne, Germany, as-

signer to Quarzlampen Gesellschaft m.b.H., Hanan (Main), Germany FiledSept. 8, 196i), Ser. No. 75,450

Claims priority, application Germany Sept. 12, 1959 9 Claims. (Cl.250-217) The present invention relates to a medical operating lamp asused in operating rooms. More in particular, the present inventionrelates to an operating lamp which can be shifted to concentrate thelight on various areas as needed in the course of an operation.

It is known to provide operating room lamps pivotably positioned formovement about at least one axis, and preferably about two or even moreaxes, so as to be fully adjustable to any desired position in thevicinity of the operating table.

The adjustment of such operating lamps is not effected by the operatingsurgeon but by an auxiliary hand. These assistants usually stand behindthe surgeon and thus cannot themselves properly survey the operatingtable. The surgeon must therefore orally communicate with the assistantabout the displacement of the lamp. This is a time consuming anddifficult process, since it is not at all easy to communicate thedesired position of the lamp in simple and unequivocal terms, andfrequent misunderstanding is the result of this process.

It is the object of the invention to obviate these disadvantages and toprovide an operating lamp of the adjustable, afore-mentioned type whichcan be adjusted from a distance by the operating surgeon himself in aquick and very simple way.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

Such objects are achieved by the operating lamp of the presentinvention. The operating lamp comprises a lamp casing with a pluralityof illuminating lamps in the casing. The lamp casing is pivotablymounted so that it can be adjusted in at least one direction, butpreferably in two directions, for example by means of a motor. Accordingto the invention the operating lamp is equipped with electro-opticalcontrol means for distant-controlling displacement of the lamp casing bythe motor. These control means comprise a control light emitter forminga separate unit and being so shaped as to be susceptible to easyhandling "by the surgeon. In the lamp casing proper there are providedlight responsive means such as photoelectric cells transforming thelight rays emitted by the light emitter into electric pulses controllingthe motor. The motor is of the reversible type and runs either clockwiseor counter-clockwise and it is accordingly controlled by the currentsreceived from the photoelectric cell means. The electro-optical controlis so chosen that a displacement of the operating lamp is caused at theend of which the optical axis of the operating lamp points towards theoptical axis of the control light emitter. This is achieved by providinga pair of photocells for displacement in each direction which aredisposed symmetrically relative to the optical axis of the lamp casing.If the optical axis of the lamp points towards the optical axis of thelight emitter, both photoelectric cells receive an equal amount of lightand consequently no actuating unbalancing electric pulse is produced.If, however, the optical axis of the lamp casing does not point towardsthe optical axis of the light emitter, one of the photoelectric cells,for example the left photoelectric cell, receives a greater amount oflight and the motor is turned, for example, counterclockwise.Accordingly, if the right photoelectric cell receives the greater amountof light, the motor is turned clockwise.

3,1 10,8 15 Patented Nov. 12, 1 963 lCC If the lamp casing is adapted tobe moved in two different directions, two pairs of photoelectric cellsand tWo motors will be provided.

This arrangement makes it possible to easily adjust the lamp casing toany desired position. This can be done by the surgeon himself, therebyeliminating complicated and possibly equivocal communication with anassistant. The surgeon simply has to point the light emitter in adirection corresponding to the desired end position of the operatinglamp wherein the optical axis of the latter points towards the opticalaxis of the control light emitter handled by the surgeon.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponthe following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1is a plan view of the operating lamp according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the operating lamp of theinvention illustrating the glass filter and adjustable diaphragm means;

FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating the principal electric elementsin the operating lamp according to the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a detailed wiring diagram of the blockdiagram of FIG. 3;

, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a control light emitter adapted forbattery operation;

FIGURE 5a is a perspective view of a control light emitter for mainpoweroperation;

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram of the control light emitter according tothe invention shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram of the control light emitter shown inFIGURE 5a.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail FIG- URE 1 shows a lampcasing 1 having a plurality of lamp openings 2 through which light fromvarious lamps such as 2a is emitted. Preferably, the lamp casing ispositioned as illustrated in FIGURE 1, which shows positioning of thecasing in a fork-shaped member 3 having a shaft 3a. The casing ispivotably mounted in the forkshaped member so that it can be turnedabout axis AA for which displacement a first motor 4 with a driving gear12 is provided. Furthermore, the casing can be swiveled together withthe fork-shaped member 3 about axis BB for which purpose a motor 5 isprovided drivingly geared to shaft 3a. For each displacement the lampcasing contains one pair of photoelectric cells, for examplephotoelectric cells 6, 7 for displacement about axis A-A andphotoelectric cells 8, 9 for displacement about axis BB.

The light emitter of the invention forms a separate unit as shown inFIGURES 5 and 5a. The light emitter has a handle 15 which may be hollowto receive a battery and as a light source a mercury low pressure lamp16, which can be turned on and off by means of a pressure button 17. Itis also possible to operate the light emitter by current received fromthe mains as shown in FIGURE 5a, wherein the light emitter has a handle1511, a mercury low pressure lamp 16a, an actuating pressure button 17a,and, instead of the battery, a connecting wire 18 with a plug 19.

Preferably, adjustable diaphragm means are disposed about the photocellsas shown, for example, in FIG- URE 2 illustrating, for example,photocell 6 with an adjustable diaphragm 20 having an opening 21 and aknurl ring 22 for adjusting the diaphragm. Due to such adjustablediaphragms a dead zone is created about the respective photoelectriccell preventing its excitation by the light rays from the light emitter15 or 15a either entirely or to such a degree that the respectivephotoelectric cell is excited far less than the other cell of therespective pair. Consequently, the associated motor remains stationaryand no displacement is effected. This assures that the operating lampremains in the desired position as soon as its optical axissubstantially points in the direction towards the optical axis of thelight emitter.

Frequently operating lamps are used having an extremely greatilluminating power. In such instances it may occur that light isreflected, for example by the white sheet on the operating table, to thephotoelectric cells on the lamp casing, thereby actuating the respectivemotors and causing an undesired displacement of the lamp. This opticalfeed-back can be prevented according to the invention in two differentways. According to the first proposition of the invention the frequencyof the light rays of the light emitter is modulated so that thefrequency becomes decisively different from the frequency of theoperative lamp. In chosing the proper frequency difference it must bekept in mind that the frequency of the lamps in operating lamps as usedtoday, i.e. 100 or 120 cycles is subject to some modulation. For thatreason the frequency of the light emitter is preferably chosen to be atleast eighty times the frequency of the operating lamp. For example, thelight emitter is operated with an alternating current frequency of from8000 to 10,000 cycles so that the light emitted has a frequency of16,000 to 20,000 cycles. The amplifier associated with the photolectriccell can then be so chosen that it has a high amplifying power for highfrequencies and a low, i.e. insufficient amplifying power for 100 or 120cycles. It is, however, also possible to use a broad band amplifier andproviding the same with a frequency filter illuminating the lowerfrequencies. While this arrangement is satisfactory, in many instances,it requires rather expensive structure in case of exceedingly strongilluminating powers of operating lamps.

According to another proposition of the invention there are thereforeprovided means causing the control light emitter to emit light of a Wavelength different from the wave length of the light rays emitted by theoperating lamp, the light emitted by the light emitter being, forexample, 366 m. as furnished by a mercury lamp. In this case the dangerof an optical feed-back can be furti'ier reduced by providing in frontof the photoelectric cells a suitable black glass filter, such as at 23which is non-transmissive with respect to the visible light rays of theoperating lamp.

Preferably, both of the afore-mentioned alternatives are combined.

Turning next to the photoelectric structure and wiring as shown, forexample, in FIGURES 3 and 4, photoelectric cells 6 and 7 are connected,for example, each with an amplifier 10, the latter being connected witha high pass filter 13, which, in turn, is connected with a furtheramplifier 10a, the latter being connected with a relay 11 operatingmotor 4.

The wiring is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 4, wherein the identicalstructure is provided in duplicate, once for photoelectric cell 40 andonce for photoelectric cell 40a, the identical structure beingassociated with the latter having the index a. The photoelectric cell 40receives the high frequency light from the control light meter andconverts the light energy into electric current which is supplied tocapacitor 41 and then to the grid of the first amplifier tube 42. Theamplifier alternating voltage passes through coupling capacitor 43 andhigh pass filter means formed by inductors 44, 46 and capacitor 45. Thecurrent then passes through capacitor 47 arid potentiometer 48 to thecontrol grid of a second amplifier tube 49 further amplifying thecurrent which then passes via capacitor 50 to the grid of tube 51further amplifying the current which then passes via capacitor 52 to thetwo grids of tube 53. Both control grids of tube 53 are negativelybiased by resistances 54 and 55 blocking the tube in the absence of aninput signal. If a light signal reaches photoelectric cell 40, the gridsof tube 53 are unbiased by the positive half-wave of the alternatingcur- .4 rent supplied by photoelectric cell 40, and the anode current ofthe tube causes relay 56 to close so that clockwise rotation of themotor results. The motor continues to turn and thereby moving theoperating lamp until the optical axis of the lamp points substantiallyto the light meter and photoelectric cell 40 is no longer excited.Consequently, relay 56 opens and the motor stops. Counter-clockwiserotation of the motor is effected by the identical structure designatedwith the reference numerals indexed with a and associated Withphotoelectric cell 40a.

The light meter is operated with a frequency advantageously at leastten-times the frequency with which the operating lamp is operated, forexample, 8,000 to 10,000 cycles. This frequency can be obtained by meansof generators, for example transformers and the like, or, preferably, byan oscillatory circuit comprising transistors as illustrated by way ofan example in FIGURE 6.

The oscillatory circuit consists of a transformer 60, two transistors 61and 62, resistance 63, and a smoothing capacitor 64. The frequency isdetermined by the selfinduction of a primary coil of transformer 60.Upon operating pressure button 65 direct current is supplied frombattery 66 to the oscillatory circuit and an alternating voltage isobtained from the secondary coil of transformer 60 which is thensupplied via choke 67 to the mercury low pressure lamp 63. This lamp nowemits light whose frequency has been modulated corresponding to thefrequency of the alternating voltage produced by the oscillatory circuitso that the lamp emits light of a frequency of, for example, 16,000 to20,000 cycles.

if a light meter operated with current from the mains is used, thearrangement will be as illustrated in FIGURE 7. Upon operating pressurebutton 80, the UV lamp 81 receives the necessary igniting voltage viastray field transformer 82. After ignition the voltage is reducedfollowing the characteristics of the transformer to the regularoperating voltage and the lamp emits light corresponding to thefrequency of the mains. It will be appreciated that When using this typeof light meter the high pass filter 13 or 44d545 must be removed fromthe circuit.

In the light meter heretofore described a mercury low pressure lamp wasused, since this has the advantage of immediately emitting light withthe full light intensity. It is, however, also possible to dispose afluorescent substance on or Within the casing of the mercury lamp whichis caused to emit visible light by the ultra-violet radiation of themercury lamp. The fluorescent substance must be so chosen that theafter-glow time is short and that the frequency of the light emitted bythe fluorescent substance is modulated to be sufficiently distinguishedfrom the frequency of the operating lamp. As photoelectric cells it isadvantageous to use blue sensitive high vacuum cells having a sufficientsensitivity for the long wave ultra-violet range. As a glass filter itis possible to use with advantage filters as marketed by the firm ofSchott, Mainz, Germany, designated as UG4-filter having a thickness of 3mm.

The provision of two motors with two pairs of photoelectric cells hasthe great advantage of enabling a transverse displacement since the lampcasing is moved simultaneously by the motor for movement in onedirection and the other motor for movement in another direction and itis not necessary to have the lamp casing first move in the one desireddirectionand then in the other desired direction. It is, however, alsopossible to provide an operating lamp susceptible to movement in threedifferent directions, for example about axis AA, axis BB, and a thirdaxis. In this case, three separate motors and three pairs ofphotoelectric cells will be provided. It will be noted that each ofthese pairs is associated with one of the three motors and that in eachof these three instances the electro-optical structure and arrangementcan be identical as illustrated in and described with reference toFIGURE 4.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to difierent usages and conditions and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend suchmodifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An operating lamp comprising a lamp casing pivotable about a first, asecond, and a third axis, a plurality of lamps in said casing, a first,a second, and a third reversible motor for displacing the lamp casingabout said axes, a control light emitter forming a separate unit, first,second, and third photoelectric means associated With said motors,operating said motors to displace said lamp casing Whenever the opticalaxis of said lamp casing substantially points in a direction other thantowards the optical axis of said control light emitter, a first, second,and third pair of photoelectric cells in said photoelectric .means, Witheach pair being symmetrically disposed relative to the central axis ofsaid lamp casing, with one or" said cells of said pairs causing saidmotor to turn clockwise, and the respective other one of said cells or"said pairs causing said motor to turn counterclockwise.

2. Control apparatus for an operating lamp comprising a lamp casing, afork-shaped member pivota'bly supporting said lamp casing, a pivotableshaft supporting said fork-shaped member together with said lamp casing,a plurality of lamps in said casing, a first reversible motor drivinglyconnected to said lamp casing for pivoting it about a first axis, asecond reversible motor drivingly connected to said fork-shaped memberfor pivoting it together with said lamp casing about a second axis, acontrol light emitter forming a separate unit, and emitting light whichincludes a component not present in the light from said lamps, firstphotoelectric detector means, disposed in said casing at diiie'ent sidesof said first axis, first electric control means connected to said firstphotoelectric detector means and controlling said first motor, secondphotoelectric detector means, disposed at different sides of said secondaxis, also in said casing, and second electric control means connectedto said second photoelectric detector means and controlling said secondmotor, said photoelectric means operating said motors to pivot said lampcasing whenever the optical axis of said lamp casing substantiallypoints in a direction other than towards the optical axis of saidcontrol light emitter.

3. Control apparatus for an operating lamp comprising a lamp casing, afork-shaped member pivotally supporting said lamp casing and defining afirst pivot axis therefor, a pivotable shaft supporting said fork-shapedmember and permitting rotation thereof about a second pivot axisextending perpendicular to said first pivot axis, a plurality of lampsin said casing defining a common optical axis perpendicular for bothsaid first and said second axis, a first pair of photoelectric detectorsdisposed in said casing symmetrically about said first axis, andparallel to said second axis, a second pair of photoelectric detectormeans disposed in said casing symmetrically about said second axis andparallel to said first axis; first circuit means responsive to balanceand unbalance of light detection of said first pair of photocells, afirst reversible motor connected to and controlled by said first circuitmeans and drivingly connected to said casing for pivoting it about saidfirst axis, second circuit means responsive to balance and unbalance oflight detection of said second pair of phctccells, a second reversiblemotor connected to and controlled by said second circuit means anddrivingly connected to said shaft for pivoting said fork-shaped memberabout said second axis, and a control light emitter as a separate unitemitting light including a component not present in the light from saidoperating lamp, with any of said detector means and said circuit meansbeing responsive to said component.

4. Control apparatus for an operating lamp according to claim 3, furthercomprising adjustable diaphragm means mounted in front of each of saidphotoelectric detector means and creating a Zone of non-responsivenessof its associated photoelectric detector means, substantially in thecentral region of the optical axis of the operating lamp.

5. Control apparatus for an operating lamp according to claim 3, furtherincluding an oscillator connected to said light emitter to supply thesame with current having a frequency used for operating said lamps, saidfirst and second circuit means suppressing the latter frequency.

6. Control apparatus for an operating lamp according to claim 5, withsaid oscillator frequency being at least eighty times as high as thefrequency used for operating said lamps.

7. Control apparatus for an operating lamp according to claim 3,comprising means in said light emitter emitting light rays having a Wavelength substantially different from 1e wave length of light emitted bysaid lamps in said lamp casing, and filter means provided before saidphotoelectric detector means absorbing the latter wave length.

8. Control apparatus. for an operating lamp according to claim 7, saidlight emitter being an ultra-violet lamp, and said filter meansincluding a black glass disposed before said photoelectric detectormeans for substantially absorbing visible light rays as emitted by saidlamps in said lamp casing.

9. Control apparatus for an operating lamp according to claim 3, saidlight emitter comprising an ultra-violet lamp, and said photoelectricdetector means being substantially non-responsive to visible light raysas emitted by said lamps in said lamp casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,155,402 Clark Apr. 25, 1939 2,489,305 McLennan Nov. 29, 1949 2,758,712Linderman Aug. 14, 1956 2,789,938 Jewell luly 9, 1957 2,827,554 Guntheret al. Mar. 18, 1958 2,911,519 Phillips et al. Nov. 3, 1959

2. CONTROL APPARATUS FOR AN OPERATING LAMP COMPRISING A LAMP CASING, AFORK-SHAPED MEMBER PIVOTABLY SUPPORTING SAID LAMP CASING, A PIVOTABLESHAFT SUPPORTING SAID FORK-SHAPED MEMBER TOGETHER WITH SAID LAMP CASING,A PLURALITY OF LAMPS IN SAID CASING, A FIRST REVERSIBLE MOTOR DRIVINGLYCONNECTED TO SAID LAMP CASING FOR PIVOTING IT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS, ASECOND REVERSIBLE MOTOR DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID FORK-SHAPED MEMBERFOR PIVOTING IT TOGETHER WITH SAID LAMP CASING ABOUT A SECOND AXIS, ACONTROL LIGHT EMITTER FORMING A SEPARATE UNIT, AND EMITTING LIGHT WHICHINCLUDES A COMPONENT NOT PRESENT IN THE LIGHT FROM SAID LAMPS, FIRSTPHOTOELECTRIC DETECTOR MEANS, DISPOSED IN SAID CASING AT DIFFERENT SIDESOF SAID FIRST AXIS, FIRST ELECTRIC CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRSTPHOTOELECTRIC DETECTOR MEANS AND CONTROLLING SAID FIRST MOTOR, SECONDPHOTOELECTRIC DETECTOR MEANS, DISPOSED AT DIFFERENT SIDES OF SAID SECONDAXIS, ALSO IN SAID CASING, AND SECOND ELECTRIC CONTROL MEANS CONNECTEDTO SAID SECOND PHOTOELECTRIC DETECTOR MEANS AND CONTROLLING SAID SECONDMOTOR, SAID PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS OPERATING SAID MOTORS TO PIVOT SAID LAMPCASING WHENEVER THE OPTICAL AXIS OF SAID LAMP CASING SUBSTANTIALLYPOINTS IN A DIRECTION OTHER THAN TOWARDS THE OPTICAL AXIS OF SAIDCONTROL LIGHT EMITTER.